Frequency-division multiplexed signal transmission system

ABSTRACT

A frequency division multiplexing system is disclosed having a plurality of individual modulators which modulate respective modulating signals onto respective carrier frequencies. The carrier frequencies are selected to have a frequency separation so that when modulated signals are combined, significant parts thereof do not overlap in frequency. The combined modulated signals are filtered by comb filters which suppress portions of the frequency spectra intermediate the significant portions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a transmission system for transmitting frequency-division multiplexed (hereinafter abbreviated as FDM) signals each being modulated by a speech signal or the like.

An FDM carrier telephony system has, as indispensable constituent elements, a number of filters for suppressing undesired spectra such as undesired side bands and carriers contained in amplitude-modulated signals. Also, filters are further needed to shape the frequency spectra, which tend to spread over the frequency axis due to the frequency modulation signals, into desired transmission bands. For this purpose, a conventional FDM signal transmission system has a filter at a stage following the respective modulator in a one-to-one correspondence. One example of such a conventional FDM transmission system is described in "Phillips Telecommunication Review", Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 86-96, published in June issue 1975 (Literature 1).

However, such a conventional system is costly to manufacture because of the need for at least as many filters as there are transmission channels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an FDM signal transmission system free from the above-mentioned disadvantage.

The present system comprises a plurality of input terminals for modulation signals, a plurality of modulator means provided in a one-to-one correspondence to said input terminals and associated with a plurality of carriers having a predetermined frequency difference therebetween for modulating the plurality of carriers respectively with said plurality of modulation signals, respectively, means for combining the modulated signals to arrange them on the same frequency axis, and a comb filter for suppressing undesired spectra contained in the output signal of said combining means.

The present invention is compact and economical because it eliminates the requirement of filters placed after each amplitude-modulator or FSK (frequency shift keying)-modulator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show block diagrams of a comb filter to be used in the present system.

FIG. 6 shows a diagram for showing a distribution of signal components of an FSK-modulated signal.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a diagram for explaining the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram for explaining the operation of the fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 the first embodiment comprises basic converter stages 3 and 4 having a plurality of input terminals 1₁, 1₂ and 1₃ and 2₁, 2₂ and 2₃, respectively, to which modulation signals are applied, and output terminals 5 and 6 from which a first-stage FDM signal is obtained. An adder 7 combines the output signals of the basic converter stages 3 and 4 into the combined FDM signal at an output terminal 8. The stage 3 includes amplitude modulators 3₁, 3₂ and 3₃ for amplitude-modulating the carriers C₁, C₃ and C₅ from a carrier source 9 with the input modulation signals appearing at terminals 1₁ -1₃, respectively. An adder 3₄ combines the output signals of modulators 3₁ -3₃ on the same frequency axis, and a comb filter 3₅ suppresses undesired spectra in the combined signal. The stage 4 has the same contruction as the stage 3. The adders 3₄, 4₄ and 7 are formed of, for instance, a well-known hybrid coil or an operational amplifier. With regard to the comb filters 3₅ and 4₅, reference is made to the disclosure in the "PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE", Vol. 55, No. 2, pp. 149-171, published in February 1967, especially FIG. 20(a) on page 166, (Literature 2). Since the input signal to the filter disclosed in FIG. 20(a) of Literature 2 consists of values selectively sampled from a continuous wave, in case where such filters are employed as the comb filters 3₅ and 4₅ in the first embodiment, it is necessary to use A-D (analog-to-digital) and D-A (digital-to-analog) converters at a stage preceding or following each of such filters. However, if a charge transfer device (CTD) with the functions of sampling an input signal and transferring the sampled values in response to a clock signal is employed as a delay element in the comb filter, the input signal applied to such a filter may be a continuous signal.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show block diagrams of comb filters using the CTD for the latter purpose. In these figures, however, for the purpose of representing one CTD having the above-mentioned functions, a delay element and a sampler are illustrated.

Referring further to FIG. 1, clock signals required for the charge transfer and sampling are fed from a clock signal source 9'. The comb filters 3₅ and 4₅ constructed in the above-described manner permit pass bands and elimination bands to occur alternately at a predetermined period.

Now the operation of the present system with the structure mentioned previously will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The speech signals applied as inputs to the modulators will have equal band-widths of ΔF₁, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 2. Also, it is assumed that the frequencies of the carriers C₁, C₃ and C₅ and C₂, C₄ and C₆ applied to the amplitude modulators 3₁ -3₃ and 4₁ -4₃, respectively, differ from each other by ΔF₂ /2, also as indicated in FIG. 2. Thus, the modulated signals will have upper and lower side bands and will be arranged along the frequency axis at intervals of ΔF₂ /2 as shown at (a) through (f) of FIG. 2 ((a) to (f) in FIG. 2 1 ). Odd-numbered ones of those modulated signals are combined by the adder 3₄ and then, undesired spectra (upper side bands) appearing within the range represented by reference character S are suppressed by the comb filter 3₅, so that the consequent frequency spectra are arranged on the frequency axis at an interval of ΔF₂ /2 as shown in line 2 of FIG. 2. Likewise, even-numbered ones of the modulated signals are converted into frequency spectra arranged respectively on the frequency axis at an interval of ΔF₂, as shown in line 3 of FIG. 2. Next, the modulated signals from which undesired spectra are suppressed by the comb filters 3₅ and 4₅, in the above-described manner, are combined by the adder 7. As a result, the frequency spectra of the respective output signals of the comb filters 3₅ and 4₅ are jointly arranged on the frequency axis in an interlaced relation as shown in line 4 of FIG. 2. The value of ΔF₂ is to be at least as large as 2ΔF₁ to insure that the selected side bands of adjacent channels do not overlap in frequency. For instance, in one embodiment the values selected are:

    ΔF.sub.1 = 3.1 KHz and ΔF.sub.2 = 8.9 KHz.

Referring to FIG. 3 showing a second embodiment of the present invention, telegraph signals are employed as input modulation signals. More particularly, a basic converter stage 14 is comprised of input terminals 10₁ -10₃ to which the telegraph signals are supplied. FSK-modulators 14₁ -14₃ are provided for the respective terminals 10₁ -10₃. An adder 14₄ combines the output signals from the FSK-modulators, and a comb filter 14₅ provides spectra-shaping of the combined signal. Reference numerals 15-17 designate the other basic converter stages with construction similar to the stage 14. FSK-modulator 14₁ is a frequency-modulator in which two oscillators having different oscillation frequencies f₁ and f₂ are switched depending on the mark and space information of the telegraph signal, and the center frequency f₀ on the modulator is represented by f₁ + f₂ /2. The other FSK-modulators are similarly constructed. The output signals of the converter stages 14 and 15 are combined together by an adder 22, while the output signals of the converter stages 16 and 17 are combined together by an adder 23. Moreover, the output signal of the adder 23 is, after passing through an amplitude modulator 24, combined with that of the adder 22 by another adder 25.

Now the operation of the present system with the construction illustrated in FIG. 3 will be described in conjunction with FIG. 4.

As is well-known, spectra of a modulated signal obtained by the FSK-modulation of carriers f_(1k) and f_(2k) in an FSK-modulator having a center frequency f_(o) ^(k), expands over an infinite frequency range, and the general distribution of the spectra is represented as shown in FIG. 6 which illustrates the respective components by relative levels with respect to the component at the center frequency f_(o) ^(k). Reference character f_(p) represents a frequency dependent upon the telegraph transmission speed. For instance, f_(p) is equal to 50 Hz for a telegraph speed of 100 B (baud). Reference characters f_(o) ^(k-4), f_(o) ^(k-3), . . . f_(o) ^(k+3) and f_(o) ^(k+4) represents the positions of the respective center frequencies of the FSK-modulators of FIG. 3, and the interval of their respective center frequencies corresponds to that between the channels to be frequency-division multiplexed. According to the C.C.I.T.T. recommendation, regulation is made on the levels of the respective signal spectra of the FSK-modulated signal having a center frequency of f_(o) ^(k), and according to this regulation, it is remarked that even if spectra having levels lower than the level of the center frequency f_(o) ^(k) by -40 dB or more are not suppressed, these unsuppressed spectra will not substantially give an adverse effect upon the transmission signals in the other channels. As a result, of the signal spectra within the frequency ranges of -2f_(p) --14f_(p) and +2f_(p) -+14f_(p) are suppressed, no adverse influence is given upon the modulated signals having center frequencies f_(o) ^(k-4) and f_(o) ^(k+4) separated from the center frequency f_(o) ^(k) by 4 channels.

It will not be assumed that the center frequencies of the FSK-modulators 14₁ -14₃ and 15₁ -15₃ have an interval ΔF₂ /2 are equal to f_(o) ¹, f_(o) ³ and f_(o) ⁵ and f_(o) ², f_(o) ⁴ and f_(o) ⁶, respectively, as shown in line 1 of FIG. 4. The output frequency bands FSK-modulators 14₁ -14₃ shown by the cross-hatched sections of line 2 are combined by the adder 14₄. The output of adder 15₄ is shown similarly in line 4.

Assuming that the center frequencies of the FSK-modulators 16₁ -16₃ and 17₁ -17₃ are equal to those of the FSK-modulators 14₁ -14₃ and 15₁ -15₃, respectively, the first-stage FDM signals combined by the adders 16₄ and 17₄ will also be as shown in lines 2 and 4 of FIG. 4. THe first-stage FDM signals combined by the adders 14₄ and 16₄ as shown in line 2 are applied to the comb filters 14₅ and 16₅ which suppress frequencies in the ranges S', resulting in an output frequency spectrum as shown in line 3. Likewise, line 5 represents the frequency spectrum output of the comb filters 15₅ and 17₅. The frequency response characteristics of filters 15₅ and 17₅ differ from those of 14₅ and 16₅ by ΔF₂ /2. The output signals of the comb filters 14₅ and 15₅ and the comb filters 16₅ and 17₅ are respectively combined together by the adders 22 and 23, resulting in the spectrum of line 6. The output signal of the adder 23 is frequency-shifted by ΔF₂ /2 (line 7b) relative to the output signal of the adder 22 (line 7a) by the amplitude modulator 24. The output signal of the adder 22 and and the output signal of the amplitude modulator 24 are combined together by the adder 25 to result in the spectrum of line 8. It should be noted that the frequency-shift caused by the amplitude modulator 24 carried out with a frequency such that the individual transmission bands may not overlap with each other after the combining operation of adder 25, and that in the example of FIG. 4, this frequency width is selected at ΔF₂ /4. The carriers and clock signals required for the operations of the FSK-modulators, the amplitude modulator and the comb filters are supplied from a carrier source 27 and a clock signal source 27' of FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the transmission speed is selected at 100 bauds, the center frequency and shift width of the FSK-modulator 14₁ are selected at 480 Hz and 120 Hz, respectively, and the transmission bandwidth of the modulated signal after the spectra shaping and the difference between the respective center frequencies f_(o) ¹ to f_(o) ⁶ are selected at ΔF₁ = 120 Hz and ΔF₂ /2 = 480 Hz, respectively.

The third embodiment shown in FIG. 7 comprises a first converter stage 36 including a plurality of input terminals 34₁ -34₁₂ to which modulation signals are fed, FSK-modulators 36₁ -36₁₂ connected to these input terminals and having center frequencies equal to a frequency 4 m (m being an integer) times as high as the transmission bandwidth ΔF₁ /1 of the modulated signals, an adder 36₁₃ for combining the output signals of these FSK-modulators on the same frequency axis, and a comb filter 36₁₄ for eliminating undesired spectra in the combined signal; a second converter stage 37 having the same construction as said first converter stage 36; an adder 40 for combining the output signals of these first and second converter stages; a modulator 41 for amplitude-modulating a predetermined carrier with the output signal of the adder 40; and a band-pass filter 42 for eliminating undesired spectra from the output signal of the modulator 41.

Now the operation of the transmission system of the present invention of FIG. 7 will be described by referring to FIG. 8. Among the FSK-modulators 36₁ . . . 36₁₂, the center frequencies of the odd-numbered FSK-modulators 36₁, 36₃, . . . and 36₁₁ are represented by reference characters f₁, f₅, . . . and f₂₁, while among the FSK-modulators 37₁, . . . , and 37₁₂, the center frequencies of the odd-numbered FSK-modulators 37₁, 37₃, . . . , and 37₁₁ are represented by reference characters f₃, f₇, . . . , and f₂₃, and the differences between adjacent ones of said center frequencies such as f₁ and f₃ or f₃ and f₅ are made equal to 4ΔF₁ (ΔF₁ being a transmission bandwidth of a signal that has been shaped in spectra after FSK-modulated). Likewise, the center frequencies of the even-numbered FSK-modulators 36₂, 36₄, . . . , and 36₁₂ and 37₂, 37₄, . . . , 37₁₂, are represented by reference characters f₂, f₆, . . . , and f₂₂ and f₄, f₈ . . . , and f₂₄ respectively adjacent ones differing from each other by 4ΔF₁. In addition, the differences between the center frequencies f₁ and f₂ and between the center frequencies f₃ and f₄ are selected equal to or larger than 8ΔF₁. Under the above-mentioned assumption, the center frequencies f₁, f₅, . . . , and f₂₁ and f₂, f₆, . . . , and f₂₂ are respectively frequency-converted by telegraph signals fed to the input terminals 34₁, 34₃ . . . , and 34₁₁ and 34₂, 34₄. . . , and 34₁₂ in the FSK-modulators 36₁, 36₃ . . . , and 36₁₁ and 36₂, 36.sub. 4, . . . , and 36₁₂, and then, combined by the adder 36₁₃ (FIG. 8, line 2). The combined signal has its undesired spectra suppressed by the comb filter 36₁₄ resulting in a spectrum as shown in line 4 of FIG. 8. Similar operations are carried out in the basic converter stage 37, and the output signal takes the spectra as shown in FIG. 8, lines 1 and 3. After the output signals of the comb filters 36₁₄ and 37₁₄ are combined by the adder 40, as shown in line 5, if a carrier frequency f_(a) is applied to the modulator 41 and modulated by such combined output signal, and if the lower side band is passed by the band-pass filter 42, a frequency-division multiplexed signal having spectra on the frequency axis is obtained as shown in line 6 of FIG. 8. It is to be noted that the center frequencies f₁, . . . , and f₂₄ are supplied from the carrier source 27 constructed of a single oscillator and an appropriate number of frequency-dividers and/or frequency multipliers.

In the third embodiment, the transmission speed is selected at 50 bauds, the center frequencies f₁, f₂₃ and f₂, f₂₄ of the FSK-modulators 36₁, 37₁₁ and 36₂, 37₁₂ are selected at 480 Hz, 3120 Hz and 4080 Hz, 6720 Hz, respectively, and the transmission bandwidth ΔF₁ and the carrier frequency f_(a) of the modulated signal are selected at ΔF₁ = 60Hz and f_(a) = 3540 Hz, respectively. The comb filters 36₁₃ and 37₁₃ have such response characteristics that pass-bands are iterated at every 480Hz.

The fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 9 adapted to the 100 bauds carrier telegraphy has basic converter stages 45 and 46 which are the same as basic converter stages 36 and 37, respectively, of FIG. 7 except for the number of FSK-modulators. The difference between the construction of this embodiment and that of FIG. 7 lies in that the system of FIG. 9 comprises an adder 49 for combining the output signals of the converter stages 45 and 46 and also branching the thus combined signal into two signal paths, a high-pass filter 50 for eliminating a low-frequency component from the signal on one of the two signal paths, a modulator 51 for frequency-shifting the output signal of the high-pass filter 50, an adder 52 for combining the signal modulated by this modulator 51 with the signal on the other signal path, and a band-pass filter 53 for suppressing undesired components of the output signal of this adder 52.

Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 10. Assuming that the center frequencies of the FSK-modulators 45₁, 45₃, 45₅, 46₁, 46₃ and 46₅ and 45₂, 45₄, 45₆, 46₂, 46₄ and 46₆ are equal to f₁, f₅, f₉, f₃, f₇ and f₁₁ and f₂, f₆, f₁₀, f₄, f₈, and f₁₂, respectively, the center frequencies f₁ to f₁₂ are frequency-converted in the FSK-modulators 45₁ to 45₆ and 46₁ to 46₆ by the telegraph signals given to the input terminals 43₁ to 43₆ and 44₁ to 44₆, respectively, thus converted signals are combined by the adder 45₇ and 46₇, respectively, and have their undesired spectra suppressed by the comb filters 45₈ and 46₈, respectively, as illustrated in lines 3 and 4 of FIG. 10. The suppressed signals are combined by the adder 49 and also branched into two signal paths, and the signal appearing on one of the signal paths has its low frequency components suppressed by the high-pass filter 50 as shown in line 6 (FIG. 10, line 6). The output signal of the high-pass filter 50 is, after being frequency-shifted by the modulator 51, combined with the signal appearing on the other signal path by the adder 52, and then, has its undesired components suppressed by the bandpass filters 53 as shown in FIG. 10, line 7.

It should be noted that the present system of FIG. 3 can be modified as follows:

(1) In at least one basic converter stage of FIG. 3, amplitude-modulators are interposed at the rear of the individual FSK-modulators while selecting the center frequencies of the carrier supplied to these FSK-modulators at the same frequency, and by appropriately selecting the carrier frequencies supplied to the interposed individual amplitude-modulators, and the individual transmission bands of the input signal components given to the subsequent comb filters are arranged on the frequency axis as shown in FIG. 4, lines 2 or 4.

(2) At the stage preceding the comb filters 15₅ and 17₅ of FIG. 3 are disposed amplitude-modulators, the center frequencies of the carriers supplied to the individual FSK-modulators in the basic converter stages 15 and 17 which include these comb filters 15₅ and 17₅ are made to coincide with the center frequencies of the carriers supplied to the individual FSK-modulators in the basic converter stages 14 and 16 which include the comb filters 14₅ and 16₅, and by appropriately selecting the carrier frequencies supplied to the interposed amplitude-modulators, the individual transmission bands of the input signal components fed to the comb filters 15₅ and 17₅ are arranged on the ferquency axis as shown in FIG. 4, line 4.

(3) Any arbitrary one basic converter stage of FIG. 3 is replaced by another basic converter stage that is combined with first said basic converter stage by one combining means, an amplitude-modulator is interposed at the rear of the comb filter in either one of the above-mentioned two basic converter stages including such replaced stage, and by appropriately selecting the carrier frequency supplied to that amplitude-modulator, the output signal of said combining means is made to have spectra shown in FIG. 4, line 6.

(4) The basic converter stage or stages of FIG. 3 are modified by employing at least two of the modifications (1), (2), and (3). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A frequency division multiplexed signal transmission system comprising, a plurality of carrier frequency modulators for modulating respective carrier frequencies applied thereto with respective modulating input signals applied thereto, means for applying a respective plurality of carrier frequencies to said plurality of modulators, said carrier frequencies having a predetermined separation frequency therebetween, means for combining the output modulated signals from said plurality of modulators, and comb filter means for suppressing undesired spectra in said combined output signals.
 2. A frequency division multiplexed signal transmission system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said modulators are amplitude modulators, and wherein the band of each said input signal is ΔF₁, and said carrier frequencies are separated by ΔF₂ ≧ 2ΔF₁.
 3. A frequency division multplexed signal transmission system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a second plurality of carrier frequency modulators for modulating respective second carrier frequencies applied thereto with respective second signals applied thereto, means for applying a respective plurality of second carrier frequencies to said plurality of second modulators, said second carrier frequencies having a separation of ΔF₂ and being separated by ΔF₂ /2 from said first carrier frequencies, second combining means for combining the output modulated signals from said second plurality of modulators, second comb filter means for suppressing undesired spectra in said combined spectra, and third adder means for combining the outputs of said first and second comb filter means.
 4. A frequency division multiplexed signal transmission system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second comb filters are digital comb filters.
 5. A frequency division multiplexed signal transmission system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first and second comb filters suppress the upper side bands of said modulated signals applied thereto.
 6. A frequency division multiplexed signal transmission system comprising,(a) first through fourth converter means each comprising,(i) a plurality of carrier frequency modulator means for modulating respective carrier frequencies applied thereto with respective modulating signals applied thereto, (ii) means for combining the output modulated signals from said plurality of modulators, and (iii) comb filter means for suppressing undesired spectra in said combined output signals, (b) means for supplying to the plurality of modulator means of said first and third converter means a first plurality of carrier frequencies having carrier frequency separation ΔF₂ and for supplying to the plurality of modulator means of said second and fourth converter means a second plurality of carrier frequencies having carrier frequency separation ΔF₂, said second plurality of carriers being frequency separated from said first plurality of carriers by ΔF₂ /2, (c) second combining means for combining the outputs of said comb filters of said first and second converter means, (d) third combining means for combining the outputs of said comb filters of said third and fourth converter means, (e) phase shifting means for phase shifting the output of said third combining means by ΔF₂ /4, and (f) fourth combining means for combining the outputs of said second combining means and said phase shifting means.
 7. A frequency division multiplexed signal transmission system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said modulating means are FSK modulators.
 8. A frequency division multiplexed signal transmission system comprising:first and second basic converter stages each comprising a plurality of input terminals for modulation signals, a plurality of first modulator means provided in one-to-one correspondence to said input terminals and associated with a plurality of carriers having a predetermined frequency difference therebetween for frequency-modulation of said plurality of carriers with said plurality of modulation signals, respectively, first means for combining the modulated signals obtained from said plurality of first modulator means, and a comb filter means for suppressing undesired spectra in the output signal of said first combining means; second means for combining the output signals of said first and second basic converter stages; a second modulator for amplitude-modulating the output signal of said second combining means; and a band-pass filter for suppressing undesired spectra in the modulated signal obtained from said second modulator.
 9. A frequency division multiplexed signal transmission system comprising:two basic converter stages each comprising a plurality of input terminals for modulation signals, a plurality of modulator means provided in one-to-one correspondence to said input terminals and associated with a plurality of carriers having a predetermined frequency difference therebetween for frequency-modulation of said plurality of carriers with said plurality of modulation signals, respectively, first means for combining the modulated signals obtained from said modulator means, and comb filter means for suppressing undesired spectra in the output signal of said first combining means; second means for combining the output signals of said two basic converter stages; a high-pass filter for suppressing a low frequency component of the output signal of said second combining means; frequency-shifter means for frequency-shifting the output signal of said high-pass filter; third means for combining the output signal of said frequency-shifter means and the output signal of said second combining means; and a band-pass filter for suppressing undesired spectra in the output signal of said third combining means. 